Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-02
GENIAL tom" POTTER.
SpeculatiOns as to Why He Left
the G., B. 4 q.
His Ability As a Manager--His Great
Hold upon the Respect of His sub
Ordinates--HumO OF Future Plans.

c., B. d Q. road comes into Rock Island
Wherever there is a mile of Burlington
track, Tom Potter is known, and wheF-
ever he is known, he is highly thought of.
He has made many visits to Rock Island
aud in all of them his genial manners
have made him friends with all who
came in contact with him, either in bust
ness, or social way.
There is considerable speculation among
railway men, especially IN tue C., b "
Q. train service, to become familiar with
the reasons leading to the resignation of
Vice President T. J Potter. recently an
nounced. A few assuming to be well
Informed and in possession of inside
facts when approached for an explsna
ton. look wise, and after a little coaxine
declare with all the assurance of accurate
knowledge that the transfer of Mr. Potter
to the Union Pacific constitutes pre-
lim:nary move on the part of the c., b
y q 10 tina, requirement of the great
trauscontinental property which these
wiseacres calmly state will eventually
pass uUder G., B. 4 q. control In
marked opposition TO this view enter
tanned by some is that of others evidently
better posted, in which ii is broadly
| limited that Mr.. Potter's severance of Off
cial relations with the @ was wholly
due to the harass inc difficulties existing
| between Mr.. Potter and General Manager
| II. B. Stone. The latter is, like President
| Perkins, the son>in-law of millionaire
| Forbes, of Boston, who possesses the
controlling interest in the G., B. & @.
road. Stone, on the score of relationship
is said to have sprung into undeserved
prominence during the past four years in
the management of the c., B 4 Q. His
| progress from an obscure station TO that
of general manager. position next to
that of Mr. Potter IN point of authority
has been phenomenally rapid, and ii is
| related upon excellent authority that on
several conspicuous occasions the first
vice president and Mr. Stone came IL
sharp conflict. Potter is not man whc
will yield point or recede from posi-
ton once taken; and Us result of these
occasional collisions the general manager
is said to have emerged from the contest
considerably flattcned out and in any
thing but an elegant frame of mind
Conscious that blood is thicker thar
water, and realizing that his future man
agement of the road would he attended
with quite probable strained relations
Mr. Potter is reported to have decided
upon severing his official relations will
the g., b. X q In order to avoid al
open rupture. Mr. Potter rose to hi,
position of Importance in the railroad
world through the shere force of meri
and industry, advancing step by steT
from the lowest to the highest round
| He is a man OF practical ability and tn,
| c., B. Il Q road probably owes more tC
Tom Potter today than to auy other off
cIsl it has ever had
Another theory as to the cause of Mr.
Potter's change was advanced nv rail
road man the other day, when he sad:
Il believe the movement means tn,
consolidation of the Union Pacific anC
the c., r l. Il ?. Mr. Potter and Mr.
Cuble have always been the closest Of
personal friends, and if their cuisines
relationship could in this way be mad,
confidential and identical, the creates
railroad system in the world would b,
formed. The Union Pacific is owpe,
to large extent by tue government ant
would have to be purchased bv the G..
r. |. Il 2. in order to get control of it
This, am inclined 20 think, is, however
the case, and by such an arrangement
through line would be formed under on,
management from Chicago TO Ogden
Potter is thoroughly posted in every fu
ture plan of the Burlington system
in the west. and that road must therefor
adopt an entirely new mode of action o
Potter will block them at every point
In my opinion the Burlington has made 4
very serious mistake in letting Potter 90
The company will not find his successo
in ability very soon"
1t can be said without flattery or adu
lation, but to the eternal credit of th
man, that few if any railway officials hav
ing the prominence enjoyed by Ton
Potter, ever retained lhe affection, respec
and unfaltering good will of all classes o
employees as is accorded him by the en-
ployes of the G., b & @. An old con
ductor, who has grown grim and gray il
the service of the Burlington, took leav
of Mr. Potter at Des Moines the otbr
day, and the Leader reports the CONVEX
sation between the conductor aud offiria
as follows-the conductor beginning wit
= this characteristic remark:
Il will shake hands with you, Nj
Potter, but I'll be id if I'll congratulate
you on the transfer, for regard il as
serious misfortune to the road in genera
and the men in particular. No sir, al
sorry, and can see no reason to congrat,
late YOU
Never mind" said Potter, I'm /
around occasionally to see the boys"
That's all right, retorted the grizzl
ticket puncher, you may be arour
once in a while, but you'll not be the ca
tain you are now, and that will make
wide difference